Furniture.



E. C. R. ELLSWORTH.

FURNITURE APPLIOATION'IILED 1320.19, 190B.

950,71 9.. Patented Mar'. l, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

www Ess 55 I? 1 5 Im: ENT m1 HT TDRNEA' E. C. R. ELLSWORTH. FURNITURE.

APPLIGATION FILED 11110.19, 190B.

2 SHEETS--BHEBT 2.

EDWARD C. R. ELLSWORTI-I, OF TOLEDO, OI-IIO.

runni'runn. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 19, 1908.

Patented Mar.. l, laid.

serial No. 468,321,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. R. ELLswoRTH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re- .siding at Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have invented new anduseful Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the forming of elements and the connectionthereof into articles to render the articles easy of assembling as wellas to produce strong and rigid constructions.

This invention has utility when embodied in articles of furniture,especially in s0- called metal furniture, wherein the metallic featuresare so interconnected as to withstand a maximum of hard usage and stillare practicable for economic manufacture.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of anembodiment of the invention in a chair; Fig. 2 is a section on anenlarged scale, taken just below the seat or bottom platform of thechair and looking up theretoward; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail inperspective showing the form of top for 'the rear legs where united tothe platform; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the chair from frontto back, with the chair back broken away and the cut leO braces removedinstead of shown in section; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view inelevation of the connecting features unitino` Va leg to the bracingmeans; Fig. 6 is a section of the leg looking down on the connectionshown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the connection adaptedto a leg of different form than shown in Fig. 6; Fig. S is a perspectiveview of a chair of so-called metallic furniture illustrating theinvention; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bracing means for thelegs of the chair shown in Fig. 8; Fig. l0 is a fragmentary detail viewin elevation of the connecting features uniting the bracing means to aleg as adapted to the showing iii Fig. 8; Fig. 1l is a detail view ofthe removable holding element adapted to lock the bracing means to theleg in Fig. 8; Fig. l2 is a fragmentary detail view of the foot for theleg; Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the leg adjacent the foot with thecushion member of the foot removed 5 Fig. 14 is a perspective view ofthe cushion member of the foot; and Fig. l5 is a view in perspective ofthe rear portion of the back rest, showing the mounting of the rest uponits support.

The platform or seat portion l is shown of general circular form andprovided on its under surface with a iange 2, in this instance shown asconnected directly to the platform l by brackets 3. The front legs 4 andthe rear legs 5, are each shown as directly and independently connectedto the platform or seat portion l of the chair or article of furniture,which connections of the legs to the platform are separate from theconnection of the iiange to the platform. To provide the detachableconnection of the legs or supports to the platform, as shown, integralportions are anged over and perforated for the holding screws.

The forward supporting members or legs 4, near the flange seat attachingportion, have openings admitting the hooked ends 7 of the seat back rod8, which rod serves as a support to carry .the back rest 9 just belowthe return bend portion l() of the rod 8. This back is mounted directlyon the legs and independently of the seat, the rod 8 extending throughrecesses 6 in legs 5 near the seat, and from thence to the legs 4 remotefrom the back to engage these forward legs 4 by hooks 7, which arereadily sprung int-o or out of position. `When sprung out of position,the back may be readily removed from the chair by loosening one of therear legs 5, thus permitting twisting of the back to get the other hookthrough the attached leg 5. In such form the article is a convenientstool, while the general assembling features are of considerable valuein shipping knocked down. The general form of the back is such thatwhile quite firmly maintaining its position, it may be slightlyyieldable. Besides simplicity and practicability for use, the back is ofpleasing form to the eye. The return bend 10 of the back furnishes aconvenient grip portion for moving the chair about. With the backconnected as shown, independently of the seat, the strains, direct andtorsion, in ordinary use are upon the separate legs, producing anexceptionally permanent construction, not tending to destroy the seatnor to disconnect the structure in any wise.

To withstand all unusual strains, the leg members in Figs. l and 8 arermly and positively braced, producing a, light and symmetrical structureof exceptional durability and strength. The legs 4, 5, are provided withkeeps, shown in Fig. 5 as arranged in pairs, one above and one below theperpendicularly entering removable portion here shown as the termini ofdiagonally disposed elements of the bracing unit feature. The bracingfeature comprises the diagonally disposed elements 12 and thehorizontally disposed tie elements 13. Taking the pair of diagonalelements 12 and `tie element 13 between a pair of legs and construing asa section of the bracing unit, the rigidity thereof is increased byjoining together as shown in Fig. 4. The positive connection between thesupporting members or legs, 4, 5, and the elements 12, 13, embodies bentor angularly disposed portions 14 to coact in the locked assemblage inthe structure. The removable holding element 15 has a pair of its sidesextending in intersecting planes. These sides coact with similarlyextending seating faces in the keep 11, while when so positioned in thekeep 11, the holding element may engage a pair of bent portions 14 ofthe elements to lock the bracing unit sections in set up relation. Thekeeps 11 as shown in Fig. 4 are disposed in pairs, and the action ofelement 15 is that of' a wedge in drawing the parts firmly intoposition. When full seating point is reached, the outwardly bent freeend of spring tongue 19-of the holding element l5, is below keep 11 andsprings outward to engage the keep and thus hold the element l5 againstworking loose or accidental withdrawal. When the supporting leg is nothollow and of right angle form to thus give proper direction to thebracing feature, adaptation of the holding device may be brought about,for instance as shown in Fig. 7 disclosing the solid or half oval leg16, to which is attached the loop keep 17 having opening 18 for terminiof brace elements. Herein the keep retains the brace elements againstlateral thrust of the holding element 15, while in Fig. 5 the sides ofthe leg serve this end.

Following the general line of the bracing of Fig. 1, but inverting andreducing the extent of the diagonal elements, and structure is producedas shown in Fig. 8. The horizontal tie portions 20 serve as the tieportions or elements 13 as foot rest. Furthermore herein, the bent orangularly disposed portions 21 of the tie element 20, are continuous orintegral to form the adjoining tie portion after leaving the keep.Similarly the diagonal elements 22 are continuous or integral past theirbends 23 at the keeps to form a diagonal element of the bracing deviceon the opposite side of a leg. F or a four legged article of furniture,this continuous bracing unit may be of quadrilateral form as shown inFig. 9.

With the diagonal elements and tie elements disposed in closer relation,the holding device may be condensed to an intermediate keep 24 intowhich may slide the holding element 25 to have its spring tongue 26engage the lower side of the keep 24 when the holding element reachesits seat. This tongue 26, like the tongue 19, has its benl free endinwardly movable to permit. of movement to position, when the tonguemoves outwardly to hold against accidental displacement of the element25, thereby insuring maintenance of the structure in firm assembledrelation.

The legs terminate at the fioor end similarly to legs 4 at the seat end,but for increased strength the flange is formed by folding over twosides of the leg to form the base 27 through which extends the rivet 28to firmly attach thereto the C-shaped channel 29 in which may seat thecushion member 30 having grooves 31 for the hook sides of the channel29. To permit forcing this cushion into position, it is provided with aconcavity 32 on its upper surface in the line of travel of the rivethead.

To additionally steady the back rod 3, and thereby materially strengthenthe structure against unequal twisting strains, the portions of the backrod 3 are tied by the brace strap 33 riveted in position to keep therods properly spaced and preclude any distortion from accidentallydisconnecting the hooks 7.

This structure as an entirety possesses simplicity combined with greatrigidity and lightness, while to these features of merit are addedassembling advantages, permitting compact knock down shipment as well asready conversion of the article of furniture as desired. The dispositionof the detachable brackets on the rest 9 is such that the rest is wellreinforced, the return bend handle 10 given its form, and the whole asimple and sightly showing. As set forth, the back as a complete portionof the article of furniture may be removed by loosening a leg andworking hooks out. The removable locking elements permit ready replacingof the bracing means or of a leg. The wear portion or cushion 30 of thefoot is easy of assemblage by forcing in or out of the C-shaped channel29, while the hooks of this channel are of such form that should thecushion become worn down, there are not exposed cutting corners toinjure the floor or floor covering. There is accordingly produced anarticle of furniture of great permanence and durability.

That is claimed and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in an article of furniture of a plurality of legs,one of said legs having tie means extending in two directions therefrom,and a bracing element extending from one tie portion on one side of theleg to the tie portion on another side of the leg, said bracing elementengaging the leg intermediate its engagement with the tie means.

2. The combination in an article of furniture of a plurality of legs,bracing means for the legs, and a holding device for uniting the bracingmeans to a leg, said device embodying keep means on a leg and a' holdingelement, said bracing means having bent portions adjacent a leg WithWhich bent portions and the keep means the holding element coactsmedially of its length With one and near its terminals with the other tofirmly maintain the legs and brace means assembled.

3. The combination in an article of furniture of a plurality of legs,bracing means for the legs, and a holding device for uniting the bracingmeans to a leg, said device embodying a holding element providedintegral with itselfI With a spring tongue, there being keep means onthe leg and bent portions of the bracing means With which the holdingelement may coact When seated with its spring tongue holding it inposition.

4. The combination in an article of furniture of hollow legs openinwardly and a bracing means for the legs embodying a tie elementintegrally continuous past a leg,

and a bracing element engaging the tie elcment and the leg.

5. The combination in an article of furniture of a platform, legs forsustaining the platform, and bracing means for the legs spaced from theplatform and embodying a tie element and a pair of diagonally disposedbracing elements extending from the tie element to different legs, saidbracing elements meeting the legs at a common point in pairs.

6. The combination in an article of furniture of a seat, legs forsustaining the seat, and bracing means for the legs spaced from theplatform and embodying a foot rest tie element and a pair of diagonallydisposed bracing elements extending from the tie element to differentlegs.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

EDWARD C. R. ELLSVORTH.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. KIRK, C. H. RAUorL

